Wall support device for video monitor mount

ABSTRACT

This invention is a wall support device for supporting a variety of commercially available flat panel television or video monitor wall mounts with related power and low voltage wiring access in a manner concealed from view.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional PatentApplication 61/552,621, entitled “Wall Support Device for Video MonitorMount,” filed Oct. 28, 2011 by the same inventors, the disclosure ofwhich is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to mounting a flat paneltelevision or video monitor on a wall with accessible low voltage wiringand power. More specifically, the invention is directed to a deviceinstalled on a wall and designed to support a video monitor mount and toprovide a means for adjacent low voltage wiring and power.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Television monitors constructed with cathode ray tubes were typicallyplaced on stands with one or more cables running from the back of themonitor to convenience outlets located near the baseboard of a wall usedto power the monitor and provide coaxial cable connection. With therapid advancement of flat panel technology, it has become popular tomount flat panel televisions and video monitors on walls. Advancementsin technology has also caused an increase in low voltage wiring optionsto flat panel televisions and video monitors, including but not limitedto HDMI, component video, S-video, DVI, digital optical, digital coaxanalog audio, composite video, and RGB/VGA. It has become desirable todiscretely conceal low voltage wiring and power behind a wall mountedflat panel television or video monitor for aesthetic reasons.

There are many commercially available wall mounts for flat panelmonitors available in the market, including fixed mounts, tilt mounts,and articulated mounts. The selection of a wall mount may be based onmany factors including price, appearance, compatibility, and optimalviewing angle. Fixed mounts are a simple and inexpensive solution for afixed location with a low profile. Tilt mounts include a hinge mechanismthat allows a tilt angle to provide parallel viewing on the samehorizontal plane as the viewer. An articulated mount provides furtherflexibility typically with a folding arm mechanism connected via aseries of joints to allow tilting and extension in situations whereviewing area and configuration changes frequently.

Most residential and commercial buildings are constructed under generalparameters without considering the actual placement of a flat paneltelevision or video monitor. Flat panel televisions and video monitorsare typically installed after the construction process, final completionof wallboard installation, and all power and low voltage wiringinstallation. Typically after completion of construction, a homeowner,tenant, or professional installer begins planning a layout to mount aflat panel television or video monitor. This late planning executioncreates an opportunity for conflicting power and low voltage wiring. Aflat panel television or video monitor location is selected and a wallmount is chosen based on the location and viewing considerations. Beforeinstallation, an installer is faced with the daunting task to locateproper anchor support for the wall mount behind a finished wall andprovide power and low voltage wiring to the flat panel television orvideo monitor from sources that may not be conveniently located near thelocation. During installation, the wall mount must be anchored to aframing member or wall stud to properly support the mount hardware andthe monitor. An installer may have a difficult and frustrating timelocating a wall stud that is concealed by wallboard and located in thewrong location to properly install the wall mount. This is particularlytrue in for an articulated mount in which the location of a single wallstud is crucial to precise installation. Installers routinely encounterproblems in placing the wall mount in the optimum position. In additionto unsuitable wall stud location, an installer may be faced withmislocated or interfering power and low voltage wiring access as relatedto the anchored wall mount. If discrete concealment of low voltagewiring and power is required, an installer also faces the complicatedtask of relocating power and low voltage wiring which is typicallyinstalled at baseboard wall locations which may be unsuitable for a wallmount located near the vertical center of a wall. Installation of a wallmount after completion of construction often requires careful wallboardremoval, blocking, and work to relocate low voltage wiring and powerboxes, causing additional complication, time, and expense to hire powerand low voltage electricians, painters, and wallboard repairmen, inaddition to the installer.

The market for new construction and remodels of residences, offices,retail sites, hotels, hospitals, and apartments continues to look forsolutions to address and streamline the construction process as relatedto the installation of flat panel television and video monitors,including the concealment and convenience of power and low voltagewiring access. There exists a need to overcome the deficiencies andobstacles described above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of this invention to provide a wall support device for awall mount attached to a flat panel television or video monitor to beinstalled on the framing members of a wall during the remodel or therough-in phase of new construction. It is another object of thisinvention to provide a wall support device which supports a variety ofcommercially available wall mounts, including fixed mounts, tilt mounts,and articulated mounts. It is another object of this invention toprovide configurable power and low voltage wiring access adjacent to thewall support device. It is another object of this invention to provide awall support device and adjacent power and low voltage wiring accessconfigured in a manner that may be concealed from view behind the flatpanel television or video monitor. It is another object of thisinvention to provide a wall support device and adjacent power and lowvoltage wiring access in a manner that provides a flush border with andsupport for surrounding wallboard.

To accomplish the above objectives and provide further relatedadvantages, the present invention provides a wall support deviceincorporated on a finished wall for supporting a variety of commerciallyavailable flat panel television or video monitor wall mounts withrelated power and low voltage wiring access in a manner which may beconcealed from view behind a flat panel television or video monitor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a front perspective of the back pan of the wallsupport device mounted vertically on two parallel wall studs.

FIG. 2 illustrates a side perspective of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 illustrates a front perspective of the wall support devicemounted vertically on two parallel wall studs.

FIG. 4 illustrates a side perspective of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 illustrates a side perspective of the wall support deviceincorporated flush on a finished wall with provision for power and lowvoltage wiring.

FIG. 6 illustrates a side perspective of a fixed wall mount attached tothe wall support device incorporated flush on a finished wall withprovision for power and low voltage wiring.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The attached figures are examples of the wall support device inaccordance with the present invention. FIG. 1 illustrates a frontperspective and FIG. 2 illustrates a side perspective of the back pan101 of one preferred embodiment of the wall support device mountedvertically on two parallel wall studs 103 with fastening screws 109. Theback pan 101 is mounted perpendicular to the wall studs 103 and parallelto the wall subsurface 105 behind the wall studs 103. The back pan 101is rectangular and constructed of a rigid sheet of material. Row offastening holes 107 are present on the top and bottom edges of therectangular back pan 101 to provide the ability to support the device onone or more wall studs 103. As depicted on FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the backpan 101 is fastened to two parallel wall studs 103 with four fastenerscrews 109. One skilled in the art will appreciate the positioningflexibility created by the rows of fastening holes 107. Adjustableflanges 121 are attached to the back side of the back pan 101 withfasteners and fastener slots 123 to provide lateral adjustability. Oneskilled in the art will appreciate the lateral support for adjacentwallboard provided by the adjustable flanges 121.

As depicted in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a rim 119 is provided along theperimeter of the back pan 101 to border adjacent wallboard. In onepreferred embodiment, the rim 119 may consist of rigid materialperpendicular to the edge of the back pan 101 with an outward dimensionequal to the thickness of wallboard. One skilled in the art willappreciate that the rim 119 provides a guide and template for wallboardinstallers to follow during final construction of the subject wall.

As further depicted in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a wiring panel 111 is attachedto the back pan 101 with fasteners and fastener holes 117. The wiringpanel 111 is rectangular and constructed of a rigid sheet of material ofsufficient strength and thickness to support an outlet box 113 mountedin a rectangular cutout 123 and attached to the wiring panel 111 withoutlet box screws 115 in preset holes.

FIG. 3 illustrates a front perspective and FIG. 4 illustrates a sideperspective of the front pan 125 installed over the concealed back pan101 of one preferred embodiment of the wall support device mountedvertically on two parallel wall studs 103. The front pan 125 is nestedwithin the back pan 101 perpendicular to the wall studs 103 and parallelto the wall subsurface 103 behind the wall studs 103. The front pan 125is rectangular and constructed of a rigid sheet of material ofsufficient strength and thickness to support a wall mount including theweight of a flat panel television or video monitor. The front pan 125includes a rim of slightly smaller dimension that the back pan rim 119along the perimeter of the front pan 125 creating a cavity when nestedin a reverse manner within the front pan 101. A row of fastening holes127 is present on the top and bottom edges of the back pan 125 toprovide the ability to support the device on one or more wall studs 103.As depicted on FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the rectangular back pan 125 isfastened to two parallel wall studs 103 with four fastening screws 129.One skilled in the art will appreciate the positioning flexibilitycreated by the rows of fastening holes 127. A wall mount may be attachedto front pan 125 of the wall support device by using one or more keyholevertical slots 131 in combination with one or more mount fasteners 133.One skilled in the art will appreciate the array of keyhole verticalslots 131 to provide vertical and horizontal positioning flexibilitywhen attaching a wall mount to the front pan 125 of the wall supportdevice as depicted in FIG. 6. A frame 135 along the perimeter of thefront pan 125 provides an overlap to cover the border between the rim119 of the back board 101 and adjacent wallboard. One skilled in the artwill appreciate the ability to conceal the border between the wallsupport device and adjacent wallboard provided by the frame 135. Asfurther depicted in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, a wiring panel 111 remainsattached to the wall mount device with an outlet box 113.

FIG. 5 illustrates a side perspective of one preferred embodiment of thewall support device showing the front pan 125 installed flush with afinished wall 137 including an adjacent outlet box. The frame 135 alongthe perimeter of the front pan 125 provides concealment of the borderbetween the wallboard and the back pan 101.

FIG. 6 illustrates a side perspective of one preferred embodiment of thewall support device showing a fixed wall mount 139 attached to the frontpan 125 with four mount fasteners 133 on a finished wall 137. The fixedwall mount 139 is similar to that known in the art.

As further depicted in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, an outlet box 113 is locatedbelow and adjacent to the front pan 25. The outlet box 113 as drawnshows a two receptacle power outlet and HDMI connection similar to thatknown in the art. One skilled in the art will appreciate that the outletbox 113 may be concealed behind a flat panel television or video monitorof sufficient dimension.

While the forgoing written description of the invention enables one ofordinary skill to make and use what is considered presently to be thebest mode thereof, those of ordinary skill will understand andappreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents ofthe specific embodiment and examples herein. The invention shouldtherefore not be limited by the above described embodiment and examples,but by all embodiments within the scope and spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A wall support device comprising: a back pan witha surface of sufficient dimension to straddle over two or more wallstuds when placed parallel to a wall and perpendicular to said wallstuds; a plurality of holes through said back pan spaced in manner toguide and receive fastening screws to attach the surface of said backpan vertically perpendicular to two or more wall studs; flanges attachedto the back surface of said back pan and extending from the sides ofsaid back pan to provide lateral support for adjacent wallboard; a rimalong the perimeter of said back pan projecting perpendicular from thesurface of said back pan with height equal or less than the thickness ofadjacent wallboard; a front pan including a rim along the perimeter ofsaid front pan of sufficient dimension to nest flush within said backpan in a reverse manner providing a cavity between the said front panand said back pan; a series of holes through said front pan aligned withthe holes of said back pan to guide and receive screws to attach saidfront pan to two or more wall studs; and an array of slots through saidfront pan spaced in a manner to guide and receive fasteners to attach aflat panel television or video monitor mount to said front pan.
 2. Thewall support device of claim 1 which further includes: a panel connectedto said back pan with one or more cutouts of sufficient dimension toaccommodate one or more outlet boxes mounted in said cutouts.
 3. Thewall support device of claim 2 which further includes: a frame along theperimeter of said front pan extending the surface of said front pan ofsufficient dimension to cover the border along the perimeter of saidback pan and adjacent wallboard.
 4. The wall support device of claim 3which further includes: a cover of sufficient dimension to conceal saiddevice flush with the surface of a wall when installed without a flatpanel television or video monitor mount attached to said device.
 5. Awall support device comprising: a pan with a surface of sufficientdimension to straddle over two or more wall studs when placed parallelto a wall and perpendicular to said wall studs; a plurality of holesthrough said pan spaced in manner to guide and receive fastening screwsto attach the surface of said back pan vertically perpendicular to twoor more wall studs; a rim along the perimeter of said back panprojecting perpendicular from the surface of said back pan with heightequal or less than the thickness of adjacent wallboard; an array ofslots through said pan spaced in a manner to guide and receive fastenersto attach a flat panel television or video monitor mount to said pan;and, a panel connected to said back pan with one or more cutouts ofsufficient dimension to accommodate one or more outlet boxes mounted insaid cutouts.
 5. The wall support device of claim 4 which furtherincludes: flanges attached to the back surface of said pan and extendingfrom the sides of said pan to provide lateral support for adjacentwallboard;
 6. The wall support device of claim 5 which further includes:a frame along the perimeter of said pan of sufficient dimension to coverthe border along the perimeter of said back pan and adjacent wallboard.7. The wall support device of claim 6 which further includes: a cover ofsufficient dimension to conceal said device flush with the surface of awall when installed without a flat panel television or video monitormount attached to said device.